CHAPTER FIVE

BELLA

I'm never leaving this hotel room. It's warm, comfortable, and likely bigger than my entire apartment.

Okay, that's an exaggeration. I'm still not leaving.

"Bella," I hear the knock from my bed and groan.

The space was massive. A sitting area, kitchen space, and a bedroom with a balcony that overlooked the beach. The weather was gloomy making me want to stay in bed even more. Cuddled under the covers was all I wanted to do.

Edward's room was just down the hall so he could still ensure I was at his disposal. Work never stopped for him. The past week has been exhausting. He'd texted me endlessly, emailing me jobs to do for him, even after hours.

I cuddled deeper under the covers hoping he would just go away.

It was still early. Edward had his meeting today at 10 am. It was only 7 am and I could easily get more sleep.

"Open the door," he knocks louder and continuously.

Throwing back the covers I walk towards the door. Both of my middle fingers up towards the wood as I near it thankful he can't see through walls.

"Good morning," His smile is forced.

There's nothing warm about him right now. He wears a grey suit, his signature thin black tie. He holds a blue folder in his hand - the itinerary I had created for him.

"What can I do for you?" I rub my face.

"Your job," he pushes past me into the hotel room.

Please. Come in.

He sits down on the couch and crosses his leg over his knee lazily, drumming his fingers on his calf.

"It's 7 am," I say, "you have a few hours until your meeting."

"You need to prepare me for it," he leans back into the lounge his arm across the back of the seat beside him.

I look down at my PJs. I'd worn an oversized t-shirt that fell at midthigh and it wasn't the most appropriate attire to wear before your boss. He didn't seem to care.

Maybe he was that committed to his fiance. I'd googled her last night. I'd be committed too. She was beautiful.

"You can't read? It was in the folder I gave you?" I sit beside him on the couch.

"You are meant to brief me," He sighs, "then we can go down for breakfast and talk about the day."

I take his folder from his lap and flip it open sighing.

"Your client is Mr. Matt Black. He's wanting to write a book about his business," I say, "a self-help book. He's proposing twenty chapters, 400 pages. He has a draft copy which I included."

"And where is the meeting?" he asks.

"Downstairs. The hotel has meeting rooms," I say, "you can meet him there and not have far to go for loosening that tie."

His mood appears to have shifted since sitting beside me. I shut his folder placing it on the coffee table.

"Sorry for barging in," he stands shoving his hands in his pocket and he strolls slowly to the window, looking out at the rain.

"It's fine," I nod, "Let me change and get ready. We can go get coffee and something to eat."

"My fiance's lawyer called me this morning with news she's going public with some rather difficult news about me," he turns to look at me, "Well ex-fiance. I just hope you'll hear it and ignore it."

"Of course," I nod surprised.

What news? When? They'd broken up. Was he okay?

"I'm sorry," I bow my head apologetically, "I hope you're doing okay. If there's anything that I can do."

He turns back to look at me, surprising me yet again with a smile on his face.

"You can. Start with a breakfast with me," he has completely perked up, "my treat this time."

Once I'm showered and ready we find our own booth at the hotel's cafe downstairs.

"Two cappuccinos please," Edward smiles at the waitress as she takes our order, "What food would you like, Bella?"

"Toast with avo," I order.

"Thanks," Edward hands her the menu and she leaves us with a nod.

"You're not eating?" I ask.

"Nope," he smiles, "I'll eat later."

"Skipping meals isn't healthy," I say.

"Neither is telling your boss what to do, yet you seem to do it frequently," he points at me.

"You told me I start at nine today," I shrug, "I'm off the clock so I can say what I want."

"Say it then," he leans back into his seat smiling at me, "I'm all ears."

"Your fiance doesn't deserve you," I may as well be bold, "no matter what happened between you. Even if you were the worst partner, you don't deserve to be blackmailed. You deserve a clean break. I'm sorry you have to deal with this and I hope you find someone who treats you right. Who makes you happy."

"Thank you. But the happy bit isn't my calling," he shakes his head, "I gave up on the spoonful of sugar Mary Poppins recommended to me."

"She also carried a coat rack in her bag so I wouldn't really take her word," I lean forward as I speak, "So because one woman fucks you over you write them all off?"

"Swearing at your boss? Bold," he is clearly amused by me.

"Off the clock," I shrug, "you shouldn't shut out the future just yet."

"Well, it's looking pretty shitty. My company needs something big or it fails," he says, "I let myself be made a fool yet again. I've hired an assistant who is as undisciplined as could be."

"Undisciplined," I gasp jokingly, "that's bullshit. I've so behaved."

He laughs, throwing back his head. It's the first genuine one I'd heard. It was beautiful just like the rest of him. His broad shoulders shake, his chest vibrating with joy. I watch him in awe. If only we could bottle a sound.

"You're right," he rubs at one of his eyes, "thank you for trying to cheer me up."

"It's part of the job," I shrug, "but I'm serious. Happiness isn't a trial sort of thing. There will be happiness after her. It sounds like she was stopping you from having it."

"Why does it matter to you?" My food is placed before me but I don't start to eat.

He waits for my answer.

"You asked me about the smiley faces," I start, "my brother always drew them for me. It was his way of comforting me while he became weaker and weaker from the chemo."

Edward's mouth slackens slightly. Shocked by my admission.

"He was the happiest kid despite all that he went through. While we cried he held us. It's like he forgot he was the sick one and he lifted us up," I explain, "the last thing he ever said to me was to always take my smiley face. He was seven, but I knew he was mature enough to mean he wants me to be happy after he is gone."

"Wow," Edward watches me, "that's… that's something."

"The smiley faces are just something I do. I want others to feel the joy it brought me when I still had him here. It wrecked my parents. They divorced as most couples do after losing a child," I explain.

"I'm sorry. That's really unfair," he shakes his head, "he would be amazed by the woman you are."

"It's all because of him," I nod.

"What was his name?" Edward asks.

"Jackson," I smile, "I was 12 when he died. It's been a long time, but I make sure I do little things every day to keep his memory alive. I try to be happy even in situations that aren't the best because he had the shittiest situation but still vowed to make himself and us smile."

"Situations like your annoying boss bashing on your door early because his ex is a monster?" he offers.

"Precisely," I pick up my knife and fork.

Thank you so much for reading.

xx